Amplify Arlington - 08/14/2026

Hi there, I'm Josh Gishri and you're listening to Amplify Arlington, a news podcast highlighting local stories and upcoming events. Let's dive into our stories starting with Ed and more overnight [music] parking passes. Ah, thanks Josh. Yes, uh, listeners at home might be aware that Arlington generally prohibits overnight parking on public streets with exemptions available for permitted vehicles in certain special circumstances. Select board voted 40 on Monday, August 10th to almost double the total number of annual overnight parking permits available with up to 300 permits now being issued. There is still a maximum of two permits per residence and permitted vehicles can park overnight in front of or adjacent to their residential addresses. And now uh for some other news, over to Doug. The Charles River Jazz Festival has become one of the city's biggest free jazz events, drawing more than 5,000 people last year. This year's festival moved to the iconic Hatch Shell on the Esplanade with performances from artists including Ghost Note, Tyreek McDole, and the BTLC Big Band. Named after its band leaders Brian Thomas and Alex Lee Clark, the Boston Jazz Foundation hopes to make the city a destination for jazz, creating opportunities for musicians to perform, connect, and contribute to establishing a lasting local scene. And of course, there was also plenty of great food from local food trucks. And now back to Josh for the downtown Moon Festival in Chinatown. The annual August Moon Festival, one of the largest Chinese cultural celebrations in Boston outside of Lunar New Year, took place on August 9th in Chinatown. Local vendors filled the streets with food, drinks, plants, clothing, gifts, and plenty of grilled street food style skewers. The celebration also featured martial arts, tai chi, traditional music, calligraphy, lion dances, and other performances. While local businesses open their doors to visitors, there were also children's activities and inflatable bounce houses, making it a celebration with something for everyone. Though this isn't a recent event, this is a great opportunity to get involved in local journalism. ACMI is seeking volunteers who are interested in producing content about upcoming events, submitting stories, or helping with podcasts like the one you're listening to today. Members can receive free training and access to ACMI's equipment and studio space, making it a great way to learn new skills while helping Arlington tell stories. Please reach out to info@acmi.tv. Here's some upcoming events to look forward to. >> Upcoming on Saturday, August 29th, from 4 to 6 p.m., 13 Forest Gallery visitors will get a closer look at the many marvels of printmaking. Andrew Sterns of New Impressions Print Studio will give a free demonstration covering techniques using blocks, plates, screens, and stones. This event is part of the affforementioned exhibition featuring 15 local printmakers and showcasing a wide range of techniques behind contemporary printmaking. For more information, visit 13Farest.com. On Sunday, August 30th, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Powers Music School will host its free fall open house. Families can explore a music together and discover which classes may be the right fit for their children. The event will feature musical games and crafts as well as an instrument petting zoo where kids can try out a variety of instruments. For more information and to RSVP, visit the PM Music School website at powersmusic.org. On Tuesday, September 1st, Arlington voters will head to the polls for the Massachusetts state primary with polling locations open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters enrolled in a political party must vote that party's ballot, while unenrolled voters can choose a Democratic or Republican ballot. The Democratic ballot includes contested races for US Senate, Congress, Governor's Council, State Representative in the 24th Middle Sex District, and Northern District Attorney. The Republican ballot's only contested statewide race is for governor. Early voting will take place at town hall from August 22nd through the 28th. And August 22nd is also the deadline to register to vote. Residents should part should check, excuse me, their precinct and polling location before election day by visiting www.arlingtonmma.gov. Uh, registration is open for the sixth annual Heights Halloween window painting where participants will mask dozens of storefront windows with haunting graphics. Signups are limited to the first 60 Arlington residents and the $30 fee includes locally sourced painting supplies. Finished artwork will stay up for the annual Heights Halloween stroll. Painting takes place Saturday, September 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a rain date of September 27th. >> We hope you check out these local events if you've got time. Now, let's turn our attention to our oped piece. Now, we wanted to start with um Ed, uh there was something that we talked about in the previous episode of Amplified Arlington, the MWR. Um something related to that. Did you want to tell us a little bit more? >> Sure. Two weeks ago, we had some guests. We had Gene Benson and Kristen Anderson who were active with the Save the Aweife Project, which really is a a local based group trying to uh end the combined sewer overflow, which essentially boils down to raw sewage pollution entering the very slowmoving narrow ale Brook here in Arlington. last week they highlighted their position on it and I don't think we're taking a particular stance or um we don't have a particular goal as to the solution where that sits is we uh were promoting last week there was public comment sessions now and the two well all the entities involved are also having like informational sessions and we used last podcast two weeks ago to promote one that was August 10th that Kristen and I both attended and I it was very very interesting it was essentially the engineers from Cambridge and Somerville, MWR and some public relations type folks. The the only distressing part to me was that on the call it was a virtual call and it was um nine people on the call and six of them were the professionals from the various entities. It was myself, Kristen and um somebody from Somerville who seemed very very involved in the project but was not I don't think a member of the wife Brook Preservation Group. Um, and we mentioned before recording the actual draft plan is a thousand pages long. We're trying to use the term humanize the system the uh the terminology and the vernacular that's going on because the engineers as committed as they are, they tend to talk their own jargon, their own technical talk. Um, and we're trying to point out for Arlington residents and people watching the podcast or listening to the podcast that it's it's a real problem. We you're talking like I just said earlier in a bad storm millions of gallons push into the alwife. So we were able to ask questions and uh Kristen promoted some of the perspective from the awife preservation group. Um and overall the tone was good and I wanted to bring it up again today because there still is a public comments period open. Uh runs toward the end of September and there there are a few more of these now. Now they're no longer virtual, but theseformational sessions that I joined. The next few are coming up. As far as some key dates, it's the public comment period is open through September 30, 2026. So today we're in mid August. So um there's still some time for folks if you want and there are ways to get in there. You don't have to be in a meeting in person to do the public comment. You can do it through different channels if if you go online to MWR site. Kristen also mentioned that you can go through Save the OF Brooks website and that's another way that you can access the public public comment >> and um burden on MW is they have to have their final plan submitted by January 31, 2027 which is not that far away but um what kind of amazes me and perturbs me a little bit is that then the mass D and EPA have until August 31, 2029 to approve or disapprove of the final. And this we're talking about that a little bit last week was like, "Okay, we're polluting for years and years now. It's already been a while to portion that affects the Hill Rifbrook. Um they want to put in two storage tanks, 3 million gallons each, and then put uh 8 acres of sewer separation and a 3/4 mile long conveyance pipe, which a mile long micro tunnel, which essentially you're building underground infrastructure to hold the overflow instead of pushing it out into the brook. And the cost for that is projected to be $340 million. Um, and the time to do it is projected to be 13 to 18 years. So again, it's um, even though now is the time to comment, my biggest comment is I think they got to do something quicker than 13 to 18 years. But >> well, I was I was going to ask, is there something um, controversial about it in terms of is it is it the timeline that's controversial? Are there any parts of it that is, you know, when people want to make comments on it that they would be on, you know, one side or the other or focus on a specific ask that the groups are asking? >> My sense, and Josh might have some backup thoughts, is they're not particularly enthral enthralled with um the underground storage concept. They want a full and final total fix. Is it controversial? Yeah, I don't know if I can answer that. Yeah, I mean I think certain advocates want one thing and certain want another thing and >> somewhere has got to be a solution. I'm more of a >> I would say the public needs a solution, you know, and uh [laughter] >> oh, why can't we fix it? Yeah. Yeah. >> And uh interesting like in the course of the discussion we were on on August 10th, the engineers were talking about what it would involve to do a true total separation of systems. The havoc it would create, you'd have to do it incrementally. I think we touched on a little bit last week, like you couldn't just do it everywhere at once. You'd have to pick neighborhoods and things and how do you how do you patch it in? >> Is the um and this may be and apologies for not having read about it yet. So, this could be answered, I'm sure, by the other podcast or maybe in the article, but is the is the funding for it a state funding stream or is it a is it reliant on federal funds, too? I mean that I'm sure >> uh affects [laughter] the timeline. Not sure what I mean by that something. >> So another good question and what we learned last week or two weeks ago from the advocates was that um MWR is a self- sustaining created entity by the state of Massachusetts. Um and they're able to do bonds. So um >> good >> and that's how they my impression was that's how they would fund it. I think having run some projects in my background it would be um advantageous if the feds or somebody would also throw some money in but my experience there they also generally do it in the form of it's not free money. It's usually a [snorts] a low rate bond or something that you still have to pay back. Yeah. Um but um but to answer the big question, the MJ MW is sitting there, they would be the one going and getting the bonds and >> and coordinating the work and everything. >> Good. Okay. I will also say that if you have not yet and would like to, you can watch the full select board meeting that and any select board meeting at our YouTube channel ACMI.tv. Uh it's on our website, excuse me, aci.tv TV or the YouTube channel ACMI um TV and then you can watch and see the engineers themselves come in. You can actually watch Kristen um and you can see um Ed so you can you can see everyone that is participating and you can get a sense for a I will say um rough cut through version of what the plan is and what the plan looks like. Obviously, they did not go over everything in elaborate detail, but they were open to answering some questions that the select board had. Um, so I think it is important for anyone that is interested in submitting a comment or learning more about the topic to go back and watch um the full video um to see for themselves. I think to your point, Doug, um something that I noticed or in talking about this with a number of of people here, um a lot of the concern um is about u funding for it, the tearing up of the streets and and how that would look and how how it would be affecting and then ultimately the timeline of it because for them to say that this will be clear by 2050 is a great goal. Um it's a wonderful thing to have something in mind where you can go at that point will be clear but it means that in the meantime until we get there what are we dealing with what are we seeing who is suffering and it's tough to you know find that balance even having now knowing or having um seen that this this is something that is going to be improved in three more years that that's that's three more years of no one doing anything. >> Right. Right. Yeah, three might be approved. That's the approval point, not the >> Yeah, >> exactly. Not the construction point. Okay. >> Yeah. It's And just another tidbit for folks that are listening uh in the course of the meeting question I had was what's typical load of a day of the true sewage, not of a storm day. Um and that the new plant and the whole system can handle 365 million gallons a day of waste. So it gives you the size or scope of the network that I think they call them transit lines when you read a lot of their you know it's all this underground infrastructure pulls it off down to the island plants. Um >> it's just a a major engineering system to to deal with and you know you look here in Arlington you see like they're doing water line replacement on Pleasant Street or something and >> that's pretty impactful to traffic. It's been there for, I don't know, 60 days. You know, that's probably what [snorts] half a mile of pipe. You know, it's not a lot of area being dug up. >> So, imagine that an exponential. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Other than that, I thought a segue in your words. Um, [laughter] >> that's his word. >> We were talking. >> I made that word. >> Did you make that up? Okay. >> Uh, >> I am a time traveler. [laughter] >> But, uh, when you're talking about the Charles River Jazz Fest, Yes. So, while I'm here in the chair on the mic, I was thinking uh we've had some wonderful jazz performances at the A Town Tiny which you've we've all talked about here. Our first podcast we talked about love I mean love well love a town love the tiny shed series is what I was going to say. >> We've had um yeah, I wouldn't call it a festival, but it's a free community event and it's people have been showing up. We had between 80 and 100 folks either sit and watch or pull off the bike path and watch for a little bit of time, which is the goal. And it promotes Arlington's offerings, meaning the businesses, coffee shops, and things. You know, they kind of circle around the neighborhood and buy a few things and come back. And it's been doing its its planned goal of bringing uh work for musicians, fund for residents, and get a little attraction to the businesses. So, that's been good. >> Yeah, it's a great thing. And uh >> when is it going until again? >> Well, it's a good question. We're pretty tough. We started in May when it was cold and the performers were wearing hats and some had gloves on even. And we'll probably do the same to answer your question. Probably uh mid-occtober is probably when we'll end when it starts getting cold again. [laughter] >> Yeah, exactly. When I can't do it anymore, when the flute freezes out. >> Yeah. >> Okay, good. So, there's there's still a few few weekends. >> Yeah, we have August for sure and September should be okay. Okay. And then u um we'll see what October brings. [snorts and laughter] So it's a little bit flexible that way as far as we book ahead, but we can uh flex flex a little bit. So who knows? >> Remind me there's no there's no like special holiday thing that's being done that that's been done yet, right? >> In what sense? Special holiday >> in like holiday. I'm thinking a holiday season like the end of the year, November, December time >> for >> for tiny shed. >> Tiny shed. >> Yeah. No, we have nothing planned there. Um, >> it's hard to heat tiny [laughter] >> Yeah, it's a little um you close up the windows and doors and it's done for the winter really. It's It's kind of a rough place to do something. Um >> well I uh I I will just add since we were on the topic of festivals and you have brought back um the Charles River Jazzfest. I went to the Moon Festival in Chinatown >> and um it just reminded me that Doug and I were having a conversation earlier about local Chinese places. >> Yes. of of things actually not only local Chinese places but directly near ACMI Studios >> there's a handful of Chinese restaurants that are here >> and the closures the closure days of them do you find because I want to know if this is universal or if it's just something that we've noticed. Do you find that Chinese restaurants tend to be closed on Monday? You know, I walk by, I live in a center area and we have more noodle, which might not be directly Chinese, could be Vietnamese, we have Tibetan, we have a wide variety of >> Asian food. >> Um, >> and I can't quite figure out when they're sometimes I walk by usually early in a week, but I've never paid that much attention. Like >> a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, when they're they're cycling through. It just feels like every time I want to go to a place, that's when it's closed. That's the day it's close. >> Yep. And Tuesday is the one that really I was saying to Josh, Tuesday is the one that really bothers me somehow because I seem to >> that's the one where I always forget and and then somehow in my mind I'm like, why? You know, Monday >> Monday seems to make sense, but I mean, it all makes sense, but yeah, >> it's somehow Tuesday is the one that's a little more upsetting where I'm like, that's not fair. [laughter] >> I wanted this on a Tuesday. >> On a Tuesday. Well, now you piqu my interest. I'll when I'm going home tonight, I'll uh take a look at the >> they post their schedules, you know. >> Yeah. Take take a look because I I've gotten a handful of brochures and I don't think I've ever paid [laughter] attention to when they're actually open. >> Yeah. It's amazing the entrepreneurial spirit down like every town and city now. It's like the restaurant scene is just >> big, you know? It's um >> it's pretty. And even coming up today, I was hopping the bus to come up to do this. And um Zumza is, you know, new relatively new Tibetan, really popular, really busy. >> Yep. >> And whatever was 2 o'clock when I was down there. Um >> there were people eating already. It's like, you know, it's it's like >> that's a great >> It's not quite lunchtime in my mind. It's not quite supper time. And it's amazing that the trade they do. >> Well, in that area of town, I think is great for that, too. Yeah, >> I think there's a lot of people on on the East Arlington side or Arlington Heights side that can go to like they'll end up going to the same kind of restaurants. Like our staff here goes to the same places pretty much every day. >> Um but in the center of town, if I was there, I would just be going to a new place all the time. There's so many things that I haven't even gotten around to eating yet. >> Yeah, it is. It is amazing. It brings >> There's that one Greek place. What is the name of the Greek place that's right on the corner by >> one? Yeah. Do you mean in the in the center? Oh, >> I'm thinking I was thinking in east because that's more my area. Yeah. >> Is the fat fat >> fat Greek. Great. That's great. That's good. I love that. >> But so so that's why I wanted So actually I since Mediterranean is my favorite food, I wanted to have that. Um but then there was this newer place and I'm like, well, I've never gone. Try it. >> Still haven't gone. >> Oh, [laughter] okay. >> The newer Greek place. the newer Greek place, whatever it's called. Sorry. >> I'm picturing I can picture it. They've got the nice blue, you know, like a Santorini kind of look to the outside there, but uh but um >> I've been in there. It's really very good. Um >> but it's a little more lunchy that it's a little more >> they have some tables outside, but it's I don't think you can go get like a real full Greek dinner in there. It's >> um they have some like hand pies and pastries and things like that. The one that I tried recently, which I hadn't tried in a while, is I've been tried at all, was um Namaste Spice over in East Arlington. Yes. >> And so that used to be in a that was that area, that little um in that block, that store used to be an old Italian deli for many years >> and then they I think they were something else and then they became >> Namaste. And so I hadn't tried them since they opened and man, very good, very family kind of feel in there. Yeah. >> Um, excellent, excellent food >> and um, highly recommend that. But it I would like to know the story behind that place, too, because it feels like there is one. It feels like, you know, the the family it's a very, um, already very busy, too. So, and that's probably a little more probably a little more lunchy, but I think it's open for dinner, too. I don't know if it's open Tuesday or Monday. We'll see. We're [laughter] going to find out. >> We'll find that out. >> Podcast Quest. >> Podcast Quest. We're going to find out. [laughter] >> Wow. That's brings me to my next idea for a podcast. [laughter] And the next time we do a podcast, I will have gone to one of the restaurants in Arlington Center and I will report back. This is my promise to our listeners out there. >> What we could do, I know your Arlington periodically has a a food critic or restaurant critic, but it's not with any set regularity. But uh but we could uh >> I'll throw my hat in the ring to that. I think that [laughter] I think I think I'm willing to to make that sacrifice. >> Does ACMI have a budget? Like we could [laughter] >> have the food. >> I'll I'll talk to my executive director. [laughter] See, >> food critics are no longer anonymous. Have you have you noticed that? That's that in the past few years that's they've they've unmasked >> themselves, right? >> I think they like to be known because then they get treated >> really well. I think it makes sense to just be like, I am a food critic. I will harshly re review everything. >> Yeah, but now everybody's a critic right now with Instagram. >> That's probably why it happened, right? I mean, they just And also, maybe you can't be anonymous at all anymore. [laughter] >> Everyone can find everything, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Right. Well, with that, I think we can wrap things up. So, thanks for listening to Amplify Our LinkedIn. If you missed anything or want to listen again, find us on ACMI's YouTube page or wherever you get your podcasts. ACMI focused on you. >> Okay. Excellent. Yeah. Wasn't quite ready to [music] Hey,